Lavrov: West seeking regime change in Moscow

Ukraine's defence minister says there are 7,500 Russian troops in the country's east [EPA]

Russia has accused the West of seeking a regime change in Moscow, once again raising tensions over the conflict in Ukraine.

The criticism of Western sanctions on Russia by Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, came a day after US Vice President Joe Biden hinted at possible further measures over Russia's "unacceptable" role in the fighting that continues to plague Ukraine.

"As for the concept behind to the use of coercive measures, the West is making clear it does not want to force Russia to change policy but wants to secure regime change," Tass news agency quoted Lavrov as telling a meeting of the advisory Foreign and Defence Policy Council in Moscow on Saturday.

He said that when international sanctions had been used against other countries such as Iran and North Korea, they had been designed not to harm the national economy.

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"Now public figures in Western countries say there is a need to impose sanctions that will destroy the economy and cause public protests," he said.